Machine for polishing- leather



UruTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

WILLIAM P. GAMBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR POLISI-IING LEATHER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 14,606, dated April 8, 1856.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. GAMBLE, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Finishing Leather; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of the machine, and Fig. 2, a diagram illustrat-ive of the construction and operation of the samelike letters in both figures indicating the same objects.

The nature of my invention consists in so constructing, arranging and combining to gether a rocking frame, and levers, that when they are put in motion over the buck, by a rotating shaft, the polishing point, called the flint or glass, which is usually fixed to the lower end of the handle of all leather polishing machines, shall move forward in a rectilinear direction, parallel with the strap, while the said point is in contact with the leather which is placed in the usual manner upon the buck for polishing, and return in a curvilinear direction, or out of Contact with the surface of the leather, at every rotation of the operating shaft.

Referring to the drawings-A, is the buck, constructed in the usual manner, consisting of a bench supported upon four legs fixed to the floor of the room, and con# taining a strap (b), resting upon springs, upon which (strap) the leather is held by hand when it is being polished.

C, is a rocking frame, which is placed in an upright position, and so as to be capable of being moved forward and backward, turning upon the pins or bolts (s, 8,) which secure it in the mortises of the blocks (D, D,) attached to the floor of the building in which the machine is placed.

E, is a lever connecting the rocking frame (C) with a crank, or to the rim of a wheel F), by means of a wrist pin, in a well known manner. Ihe wheel F, is fixed upon a shaft (G) which rotates upon any sub stantial fixture or post (H), receiving its motion through a pu'lley (I), and band. The lever (E) has what is usually called the handle, fixed to and projecting downward therefrom at a right angle, so as effect thereby a rectilinear motion of the flint or glass (Z), when in contact with the leather, by mea-ns of a rotary mover; and hence the crank, lever, and rocking frame must be proportioned and arranged so as to act in compensation Iof each other.

I have found the following proportions suitable for the .purposevizz length of rocking frame (C), 495 feet; connecting lever T feet; distance of handle (K) from the rock frame, fifteen inches; length of crank (F) 12 inches. By reference to Fig. 2, the arrangement and operation of this combination will be readily perceived.

The crank pin, moving in the direction of the arrow from 1 to 2, 3, 4, &c., moves the lever and flint, with the rocking frame, through corresponding horizontal distances in the order of the numbers, the flint passing over the strap in a perfectly rectilinear parallel direction from 1 to 5, thence in a curve upward and downward to 14, thence rectilinearly and parallel again to the place of starting. It will also be observed that the approach of the flint from 13 to 14 is very oblique, or at an acute angle to the strap, which is especially desirable, as the leather when being finished is in consequence much less liable to be injured by the first touch of the flint or glass and the flint or glass also is much less likely to be injured or broken.

The second part of my invention relates to the manner of depressing the strap. The device for this purpose consists of two saddle pieces (N, N, Fig. 1,) which rest, one upon each end of the strap and connect respectively with the levers (O, 0,) and pieces (P) which are fixed at each end of the buck, and also connect with the treadle lever (2) by means of the respective vertical connecting pieces (R, R,)-all being jointed at their connections asshown in the drawing. The usual spring beneath the strap bed affords the proper support for he strap during the operation of the machine upon the leatherbut when the leather is removed, it is important, without stoping the machine, to prevent all contact of the iiint directly with the strap, and also at times, suddenly to relieve the leather also from contact therewith, to prevent burning, &c. This result is readily attained by the Workmans placing his foot upon the treadle (2) and pressing it doWn- Ward-thus overcoming the springs with slight effort, and bringing down the strap suiiiciently to allow' the flint to pass over it Without contact.

All the machines for dressing or nishing leatherv hitherto invented for the especial purpose of dispensing With the excessive labor required for Working the hand machines, have failed to accomplish the inishing as perfectly as by the hand machines, mainly because they require a curved strap A 'and bed for the leather; or, rigid guides,

requiring to be kept Well oiled, at the risk of ruining the leather for nishing. A rectilinear parallel motion of the flint or glass upon the surface of the leather,

,y WM. P. GAMBLE.

Witnesses BEN. MoRisoN, JNO. B. KENNEY. 

